Breadcrumb trail

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Countries

All countries emit greenhouse gases through natural and human activities. Because they have gone through the process of industrialization over the past 150 years, and depend on energy to operate vehicles, heat homes, and operate industries, developed countries tend to produce more emissions than developing countries. Current international rules do not require developing countries to regularly report their greenhouse gas emissions. However, some developing country emissions are now believed to have surpassed developed country emissions.

China is now estimated to be the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Other major emitters include the United States, the European Union, Russia, Japan, and India. Canada accounts for about two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Detailed information regarding greenhouse gas emissions of parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is available on the UNFCCC National Reports Web page.

Sectors

In Canada, 80 % of total national greenhouse gases are predominantly associated with the production or consumption of fossil fuels for energy purposes. About 44 % comes from stationary sources such as electricity generation, space heating, fossil fuel industries, manufacturing, construction, and mining. Domestic transportation of goods and people accounts for 27 %. The remaining nine percent is from fugitive sources such as venting and flaring of waste fuel gases or releases from mine openings. Non-energy sectors such as industrial processes and solvent use are responsible for almost 8 % while the agriculture and waste sectors represent 9 % and 3 %, respectively.

Similar sources of emissions occur in other countries, although the ratios differ with geography, economic development, and climate.